Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss local sports first, but the highlight of this episode has to be Tony’s epic Mariners fandom story, and a jersey from a former M’s manager that was sacrificed for the betterment of the organization
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
In this episode of The Study of Sports, reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss hosting track and field meets, the decision for school districts to move middle school football to the spring, and some high school baseball.
While this podcast deals primarily with local, high school sports — from the perspective of expert administrators — we have to be honest with you: The best part of this episode is Tony’s story of winning a bizarre gift from the Mariners 14 years ago, and how in order to try to change the trajectory of the franchise, Tony had to sacrifice that gift this season.
Gotta hear from him!
Our podcast format is simple: A longtime sports reporter (Paul Valencia) discusses high school sports, and more, with longtime sports administrators and former coaches. Cale Piland is the former head football coach at Evergreen and Union and is now the athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools. Tony Liberatore is a former assistant coach and athletic director at Columbia River and is now an associate principal at Fort Vancouver.
We’re always interested in subject ideas for a future podcast. Email us a subject idea.
Send us your thoughts at: paul.v@clarkcountytoday.com.
Also read:
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Legislative candidate Sarah Mittelman argues biological males should not compete in girls sports and plans to vote yes on IL26 638. - The Study of Sports Podcast Aug. 26 2026: We have made it to a new school year, a new high school sports year
Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore return after a summer break to kick off the 2026-27 high school sports year. - VIDEO: Seattle Times loses columnist over spiked women’s sports article
Matt Calkins resigned from the Seattle Times after 11 years when editors refused to publish his July 31 column on female athletes opposing transgender competition policies. - High school football: New coach prepares for long-term success at Prairie High School
James Young-Lewis, a Clark County native who graduated from Evergreen in 2009, became Prairie’s head coach in May after working as an assistant coach across various programs since 2015, joining Prairie’s staff in 2024.
